We’re excited to continue our annual Women’s History Month blog series which highlights the exceptional women of Itron who are admired by their peers and play a pivotal role in advancing Itron’s mission of creating a more resourceful world. 

In our first Women’s History Month blog, we had the chance to sit down with Jeanie Aday, technical training associate in the learning, documentation and innovation department, to hear about her story and the insights she’s gathered along the way. In the second blog of the series, we headed over to the Liberty Lake site to catch up with Tracy Troyer, senior program manager in Networks. Keep reading to learn more about her role and experience over the years working at Itron.  

Q: What does an average day work day look like for you? 

A: I am an early riser, so I usually start the day around 5:30 a.m. This gives me 30 minutes to an hour to get situated for the day, check emails and prepare for meetings I need to run that can start as early as 6:30 a.m. Being on the west coast requires an early start! My days typically consist of responding to emails, running and/or attending meetings and filling out paperwork. Taking care of myself is a priority and helps me show up better at work, so I make sure to find time for a break and get some exercise. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role? 

A: My favorite part is problem solving. I was able to problem solve more in my previous role as an engineer but thankfully I still get to do it in my current role as a program manager. I enjoy rallying people together to turn concepts into reality. At Itron, we have complex solutions to address the complex challenges our customers face. Being a good problem solver on our team means having the ability to see the big picture -- it requires looking both upstream and down to try to account for every possible outcome. 

Q: How have you grown and evolved since beginning at Itron? 

A: When I started at Itron, I had very young kids and learned how to achieve a work-life balance that allowed me to be fully present in their lives. Now that my kids are older and off to college, I continue to work on finding the right balance so that I can be fully engaged at Itron without allowing work to dominate my personal life. It is an ongoing process. I’ve also become a much better mountain biker since joining Itron. The Liberty Lake office is close to great biking trails, so a group of us used to often ride at lunch around the lake. 

Q: Can you share about a role model who has inspired you and how they influenced your career?  

A: When I was at HP, I worked with a woman named Kelly who was 11 years older than me. I was pregnant with my first child at the time and was struggling with feelings of guilt about returning to work after the baby was born. Without disparaging moms that choose to stay at home, she expressed that by working, I’m doing right by my children. She said that it would be good for my kids, both of whom are girls, to see that you can be both a good mom and a good employee. Kelly was a great mom, a great employee and an inspiration to me.  

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give other women and girls who want to pursue a career in engineering?  

A: I would tell them that engineering is a great career. It is intellectually challenging and keeps your mind stimulated. There is job security in this field and most engineering positions allow you to work from anywhere, so you aren’t limited geographically. I would also say to avoid thinking of yourself as a female engineer. You are just an engineer. Focus on being a competent engineer and a collaborative coworker and you can’t go wrong.